Half of the half of registered voters who voted have elected
Alan Cohen, who presented himself as an independent social
liberal and fiscal conservative, committed to inclusive
government and Total Quality Management.

Cohen now has the opportunity, with the help of all
Ithacans,
to show that social liberalism and fiscal conservatism can serve
one another, and that political party cliques are arbitrary. He
takes office during tough times and he knows, through his
volunteer work, that an increasing proportion of citizens are
being squeezed for food, housing, day care, medical care, and the
paid labor with which to obtain these.

He thus has an opportunity to give a good name to the
term
"fiscal conservatism," by subsidizing job development,
youth programs, neighborhood centers and child care. These
exemplify both social liberalism and fiscal conservatism that
conserves, by reducing the greater expenses of crimefighting,
courts and jails. Nationally, "fiscal conservatism" has
become code for 'enrich-the-rich-and-screw-the-poor.'
Tax-and-spend "conservatives" eagerly cut tiny budgets
that teach and feed poor children, while voting giant pork
contracts for weapons, highways and prisons. They raise taxes on
the poor, and lower their own. They unite to break unions. Some
of the people who endorsed Alan are so inclined, and will need
restraint.

Real fiscal conservatism should begin locally with focus
on
the two-thirds of this city's budget and debt which directly or
indirectly subsidizes automobiles. Dependence on cars creates
little local employment beyond City Hall, and bleeds millions of
dollars from the city yearly. To Alan's credit, he has endorsed
revival of a heritage trolley system (first linking Cornell and
Commons), which can be installed with little government funding.
The trolley would recapture some of these lost millions as sales
taxes for the city, while cleaning our water and air. Cohen can
likewise push the proposed bikeway system, which would allow
thousands of families living near the Commons to bike safely and
easily downtown, rather than drive to malls

There
are hundreds of related creative U.S. projects which
feed, fuel, house, transport and fund cities with least
dependence on government or distant corporations (see cover
story: "Growing Jobs"). They are proven practical and
economical. The new markets that are opened with dollars retained
locally by these innovations will be the single largest source of
new job creation, and will be the primary measure of Cohen's
success as mayor.

To enact them he will need to take charge at City Hall,
where
various department heads have tended to resist dynamic ideas, and
even pocket-veto mayor/council decisions. Alan's proposed Total
Quality Management, which gives more authority to line staff,
should be implemented with this caution. We recommend a book on
Total Quality Environmental Management (Competitive & Green,
by Dennis Kinlaw).

Ithaca is rich with talent determined that Ithaca should
be a
model of grassroots job develop-ment and ecological urban design,
rather than another victim of dreary urbanization. The new mayor
can rely on our cooperation for the best of his aims, and can
expect challenges to any less. Dozens of local organizations
dedicated to social benefit would do well to establish a
Community Congress, and be present at all council and committee
meetings. By welcoming these groups at City Hall, and respecting
their leadership, Mayor Cohen can win Ithaca's gratitude, and
show the nation how to do more with fewer dollars.